Ginkgo biloba extract improves spatial memory in rats mainly but not exclusively via a histaminergic mechanism.

Abstract	In order to clarify the mechanism of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on learning and memory, we studied the effect of GBE on spatial memory deficits induced by diphenhydramine, pyrilamine and scopolamine using the eight-arm radial maze performance of rats, in comparison with donepezil. Total error (TE), reference memory error (RME) and working memory error (WME) were used as indices of spatial memory deficits. Both GBE and donepezil caused a potent antagonistic effect on the increase in TE, RME and WME induced by diphenhydramine. GBE and donepezil also antagonized scopolamine-induced spatial memory deficits. Although the antagonistic effect of GBE on pyrilamine-induced spatial memory deficits was weak, a significant difference was observed with TE and WME. However, donepezil caused no antagonistic effect on pyrilamine-induced memory deficits. From these findings, we concluded that the effects of GBE are mainly contributable to cholinergic activity and perhaps partly due to a histaminergic mechanism.
Authors	Yasuko Yamamoto, Yutaka Adachi, Yoko Fujii, Chiaki Kamei
Journal	Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 1129 Issue 1 Pg. 161-5 (Jan 19 2007) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
PMID	17157275 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References	Histamine H1 Antagonists Indans Muscarinic Antagonists Nootropic Agents Piperidines Plant Extracts Histamine Diphenhydramine Donepezil Scopolamine Pyrilamine Acetylcholine
Topics	Acetylcholine (metabolism) Animals Brain (drug effects, metabolism, physiopathology) Brain Chemistry (drug effects, physiology) Diphenhydramine (adverse effects) Donepezil Ginkgo biloba Histamine (metabolism) Histamine H1 Antagonists Indans (pharmacology) Male Maze Learning (drug effects, physiology) Memory (drug effects, physiology) Memory Disorders (chemically induced, drug therapy, physiopathology) Muscarinic Antagonists (adverse effects) Neural Pathways (drug effects, metabolism) Nootropic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use) Piperidines (pharmacology) Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use) Pyrilamine (adverse effects) Rats Rats, Wistar Scopolamine (adverse effects) Synaptic Transmission (drug effects, physiology) Treatment Outcome

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